Indian Peafowl

Indian peafowl are large ground-feeding birds native to the Indian subcontinent. Males possess iridescent blue plumage and elongated upper-tail coverts bearing colorful eyespots, while females are smaller and predominantly brown and green. They favor open deciduous forest, scrub and grassland with dependable water and trees suitable for nighttime roosting. Introduced and captive populations occur widely, including in parks, estates, gardens and agricultural landscapes. (Animal Diversity Web)

Peafowl are opportunistic omnivores that consume seeds, fruit, leaves, insects and small vertebrates. Males advertise to females by raising and vibrating their elaborate trains, producing both visual and acoustic signals. Females scrape simple nests into the ground beneath vegetation and perform incubation and chick care alone. Chicks are precocial and forage soon after hatching, but remain with their mother for protection, guidance and access to suitable feeding areas. (Animal Diversity Web)